Knife



' latented Nov. '29, .1927.

i so

' quick UNITED srar s nnnswoa'rn L. mom,

; 1,651,141 PATENT OFFICE.

or narrow, 1110316.

Application filed November My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a knife, in which a detachable blade is used with a s ecially constructed handle, so that the bla e may be readily detached from the handle for replacement with a new blade when desired, and so arranged that the blade may be easil and y mounted on the handle, he (1 1n rigid position when mounted on the handle. With knives of this class, in which a detachable blade is used, difliculties are encountered which render the knife-less eficient for the uses to which it is adapted. .A. sur on, when using a knife of this'class, genera y is wearing rubber gloves which may be easily perforated or torn in removing or replacing a blade. Consequently, it is desirable that the handle be so constructed that the blade may be attached to the handle, or removed therefrom, with a minimum of operations and in such a way that the likelihood of the surgeon perforatin the rubber gloves which he is wearin shall reduced to a minimum.

Another diflicult encountered. in the using of a detachable blade on a knife handle of this class is a loose mounting of the blade on the handle, so that the blade is not held firm and fixedly, relatively to the handle, but is permitted to sway or move slightly on its mountings. For the most eflicient'results in the use of a knife of this class, it is desirable that there be no relative play between the knife and the handle. g

The present invention is designed to over; come these difficulties and to provide a handle in which the blade will be easily and quickly mounted and easily and quickly locked firmly in fixed relative sition to the handle, with a. movement 0 a minimum number of parts,

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a handle so constructed as to present a pair of resilient members ada ted for engaging the knife blade between t em and clamping the same firmly in operative position. 'Another object of the invention is the provision of a lmife'of this class which may be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, and highly eflicient in use.

The invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanyin drawings which form a in which part of this speci cation, and i 10, m4. Serial 10. 750,110.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of invention.

the blades in side elevation.

\ Fig. 3' is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a further modified form of the invention, and,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken on substantially line 55'of Fig. 4. p

- In the greferred form, the knife handle 9 is forme from a single piece of wire, doubled upon itself, and having one of the ends angularly turned as at 10, terminating in a further angular y turned portion 12, which extends mainly] 1n alinement with the upper portion of t e handle. The up 1' portion of the handle is angularly turned zs at 9'." The material from which the handle is made is sufliciently resilient so that when thetwo portions of the doubled over wire are spread apart, the resiliency of the material will tend to restore the member to normal osition. When the portions of the hen e are positioned over each other as shown in Fig. 1, and the blade 17, which is used therewith, is removed therefrom the angularly turned portion 9' will rest against the angularly turned portion 10, in close engagement therewith. When the blade 17 is removed, shouldthe doubled over portion s r d dubled over portions of the handle 9 are raised to the position shown in Fig. 1, there i is considerable tensiontending to move the handle rtions into closer relation with each other. he lower portion of the handle 9, at the free end, is b1furcated the bifurcatien being secured together, adjacent the free ends,'b a suitable pin or rivet 19. A detachable '0 ads 17, is adapted for insertion between the bifurcation of the lower portion of the handle 9. The blade is provided in its uppef edge, with a rearwardl inclined slot 18, adapted for race tion of e pin 19. In forming the free on of the lower portion of the handlev bifurcated, the slottin is carried a rearwardl to the main portion 0 the lower portion 0 the handle 9 so as to provide a shoulder or resting surface 13, adapted for engagin with the lower edge of the shank tion 9' is also bifurcated, as show'nin Fig. 2, and the slotting of this angularly turned end is carried rearwardly into the main body of the upper portion'of the knife handle 9, to provide a shoulder or resting place 15, ada ted for engagement with the uppeigedge of t e shoulder of the blade 17. The bifur-- cation of these ends is so carried on that the resting shoulders 13 and 15 are substantially the bases of grooves formed in the main body of the opposite ends of the handle 9.

' 1n mounting the blade 17, in operative position on the handle 9, the blade is inserted between the bifurcations, so as to bring the pin 19 into engagement with the slot 18. The blade is then positioned in till engagement with the'shoulder 13, the upper portion of the handle having first been flexed upwardly, to permit the assembly of the blade in this position. As shown in Fig. 2, the blade is provided in the upper edge of its shank, with a notch or recess 1 1.

pin or rivet 16, is projected through the bifurcation of the angularly turned portion 9' and when the knife is mounted in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the pin 19 engaging the base of the slot 18, a lowering of the upper ortion of the handle 9, u on the shank of t e blade 17, so that the bi urcations of the angularly turned portion 9' shall embrace the blade 17, at opposite sides,

the pin 16 will engage in the notch 14. The pin-19 will prevent a forward movement of the blade relatively, to the handle 9,'the pin 16 engaging in. the notch 14 and preventing a rearward movement of the blade 17, relatively to the handle 9-. Although 1 have shown in the drawings, the use of the pin 16, the same may be dispensed with, if desired, as the ressure of the handle portions, against t e shank of the blade, will serve to bind the blade in fixed relation, suficiently tight to resist such normal thrusts and pressure as may be exerted upon it;

in Fig. 3, l have shown a modified form of the invention, wherein the portions of the handle 9 are provided with arcuate grooves, 20 and 21, the end of the shank of the blade 17 being curved. This form of the shank of the blade, and the grooves, is made for facilitating the mounting ot the blade in the handle. The blade in this instance may be inserted between the bifurcations, havingrearward thrusts exerted upon the blade suiliciently to carry it rearwardly, so as to spread the doubled over portion of the handle apart, to permit the seating of the shank of the blade in the grooves 20 and 21. A forward movement of the blade will then bring the pin ill-into engagement with the body of the slot 18 and permit the pin 16 to engage in the notch 14..

in Fig. 4, I have shown a further modified form in. which the upper portion of the handle 9 is not angularly turned downwardly, toward the bottom portion, as shown in the other forms. A hood 22, formed from suitable materiab'is mounted on" the endof the upper portion of the handle 9 in fixed relation, by either welding or in any other desired manner. This ortion of the handle is bifurcated to rovi e a groove 26,

as shown in Fig. 5. I he pin 25 is projected through the handle portion and through the shield '22, so as to lie in the groove 26. The downwardly projecting sides, 23 and 24-, are adapted for engaging at opposite sides, the blade 17. A groove 27 is also formed in the bifurcated lower end of the handle 9. The structure of the blade is, as already described, the pins 19 and 26 performing the functions mentioned.

It is thus seen that I have produced a handle for mounting a blade detachably, thereon, which is simple in structure, and

easily operated. Furthermore, the structure pin 19 from the slot 18. The knife is adapted for various uses, and especially lends -itselff0r use in surgical work. This movement of theblade may be done by the surgeon, While he is wearing the rubber gloves, without in any wise bringing the gloves into contact with a surface, which might puncture them.

engagement with the blade 17- While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of structure, I do not wish to limit; myself to the precise details of structure shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what ll claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

1. A. knife handle of the class described, adapted for use with a detachable blade and comprising a resilient member'doubled upon itself, the ends thereof being adapted for springing apart for receiving and clamping between them said blade, one of said ends bein extended along said blade the major portion of its length for reinforcing the same and angularly turned to project across the medial line of said blade at a point between the handle and the extremity of said end.

2. A. knife handle of the class described, adapted for use with a detachable blade and "one end thereof and being comprising a resilient member doubled upon itself, the ends thereof being adapted for springing apart for receiving and clamping between them said blade, one of said ends engagingone edge of said blade adjacent extended along said blade at the opposite edge thereof throughout the major portion. of its length for reinforcing the same;

3. A device of the class described, comprising a knife handle having a pair of relatively movable normally resilient clamping members, one of said members being extended beyond the other; an engaging member mounted'on said extended member, said extended member having anengaging surface formed thereon; a detachable blade having a notch formed in its upper: edge for the reception of said engagin end of said blade being adapted for engaging said engaging surface, said blade being movable in its plane on said engagement member as a pivot in, one direction after engagement of said butt with said engaging surface and said engagement member in said notch, the other of said clamping members engaging the upper edge of the butt of said blade for preventing said planal movement.

4. A knife handle of the class described, adapted for use with a detachable blade, comprising a resilient member, doubled upon itself, the ends thereofbeing adapted normally to move into close relative approach, one of said ends being adapted for engaging at the opposite longltudinal edges of said blade and the other of said ends being adapted' for engaging one of the longitudinal edges of said blade.

member, the butt.

5. Alrnife handle of the class described, adapted for use with a detachable blade, comprising a pair of resilient members adapted for being sprung apart for receiving and clamping between the same said blade, one of said members engaging opposite longitudinal edges of said blade and the other of said members engaging one of said longitudinal edges.

6. A knife handle of the class described,-

adapted for use with a detachable blade, comprising a pair of resilient members, adapted for being sprung apart for engagng and clamping between them said blade,

one of said members engaging one of the 1 upper edge of sai blade, an engaging surface on said handle for engaging the opposite edge of saidblade adjacent its butt, and means independent of said forward projecting portion engageable with the upper edge of said blade for normally resisting disengagement of the lower edge of said blade from said engaging surface.

In testimony whereof, I have signed the foregoing specification.

ELLSWORTH L. MCCAIN. 

